i85 



g. ARNOGLOSSUS TAPEINOSOMA (Bleeker). 



Platophrys [Arnoglassus) tapeinosoma, Bleeker, 1866, Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk., iii, p. 49 ; Bleeker, 

 1866-72, Atl. Ichth., vi, p. 13, Pleuron. pi. iv, fig. 4. 



ArnoglosSHS macrolopkus, Alcock, 1889, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng., Iviii (2), p. 280, pi. xviii, fig. 2 ; Alcock, 

 1890, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (6) vi, p. 433; Alcock, 1898, lUust. Zool. " Investigator ", Fishes, 

 pi. xxiii, fig. 3; Johnstone, 1904, Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fish., Suppl. Rep., xv, p. 211 ; Weber, 

 1913, " Siboga "-Exped., Fische, p. 432 ; Norman, 1927, Rec. Ind. Mus., xxix, p. 21, fig. 3 ; 

 Fowler, 1928, Mem. B. P. Bishop Mus., x, p. go. 



Bothus{Arnoglossu$) tapeinosoma, Weber and Beaufort, 1929, Fish. Indo-Austral. Arch., v, p. 127. 



Fig. 131. — Arnoglossits tapei 



B..M. (N.H.) 90.11.2S.43, 44- X 



Depth of body 2^ to 3 in the length, length of head 3 to nearly 4. Snout shorter 

 than eye, diameter of which is 3 to 3J in length of head ; eyes separated by a narrow 

 bony ridge, their anterior margins level or lower a little in advance of upper. Maxillarj' 

 e.xtending to below anterior edge or anterior J of eye, length 2 1 to 2 1 in that of head ; 

 lower jaw nearly twice in head. Teeth all small and close-set, not enlarged anteriorly. 

 8 to 12 slender gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Scales feebly ctenoid on 

 ocular side, cycloid on bUnd side ; 48 to 55 in lateral line. Dorsal (83) 89-98 ; anterior 

 rays greatly prolonged in the mature male, a little longer than those which follow in 

 the female. Anal (65) 67-72. Pectoral of ocular side with 11 or 12 rays, length 

 about 5 that of head. Caudal pointed or double truncate. Brownish ; a series of 

 indistinct darker blotches along upper and lower edges of body ; a dark blotch at 

 junction of straight and curved parts of lateral line, and generally one or two smaller 

 blotches on straight portion ; median fins with numerous small brown spots ; a 

 large dark spot at base of posterior parts of dorsal and anal ; a dark spot on distal 

 part of pectoral ; distal ends of pelvics blackish. 



Type. — Leiden Museum. 



Distribution. — From the Persian Gulf to the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago 

 and beyond. 



